As the world prepares to say a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, children in the Cayman Islands have said their own goodbyes to the late monarch.
In a handwritten note accompanied by a colourful drawing, 3-year-old Alby simply wrote, “I love you Queen. I miss you. Please be happy in heaven.”
The weather-beaten note was accompanied by a crayon drawing of the Queen and one of her beloved corgis.
Alby’s message reflects the general outpouring of affection shown by millions following the Queen’s death on 8 Sept. at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Nestled next to Alby’s note lay another drawing of the Queen with similar words of affection.
Along with the children’s drawings, people had placed bouquets with messages paying homage to the Queen.
Martin and Sarah Trott, in their sympathy note, said, “A true inspiration to us all. Rest in peace, Your Majesty.”
Also among the tributes lay an anonymous bouquet with the note, “Never have I done this before for a public figure. But you were one in a million. God rest your kind soul.”
Kids pay tribute
Over 260 children, from 35 private and public schools across Grand Cayman from West Bay to East End, gathered at four locations on Thursday, 15 Sept. to lay notes and floral tributes in honour of the late Queen.
Each school was represented by nine students – one child for each decade of the late British monarch’s life.
The tributes were laid outside the Government Administration Building, Government House, the Pines Retirement Home (which was formally opened by the Queen in 1983, during one of her two visits here) and at the Queen’s Highway monument in East End.
A similar ceremony was held on Cayman Brac at the District Administration Building for students there to pay their respects.
The tribute-laying ceremonies were part of a series of government-arranged events for Cayman’s 11-day national period of mourning, that will end with the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, 19 Sept., which has been declared a public holiday.
Governor Martyn Roper, speaking on Gold FM on 15 Sept., spoke of his three experiences meeting the Queen over his diplomatic career.
“She [had] just an incredible manner of being very relaxed and using… humour to make you feel very relaxed, and it was a really enjoyable discussion. My last meeting was as governor of the Cayman Islands and, even though her visits to our islands were quite a while ago now, she remembered details of the visits and was very keen to be… updated on the incredible progress Cayman has made over those years… A truly incredible woman,” Roper said.
The governor, together with Premier Wayne Panton, will represent Cayman at the Queen’s funeral at Westminster Abbey. He acknowledged that, though there is “profound sadness” over the loss of the Queen, there is “huge affection” for the new monarch, King Charles III.
“I think he’s going to be an excellent monarch for the United Kingdom, the Overseas Territories and the realms, the countries that still have King Charles as the head of state,” Roper said.
On Thursday, also as part of the national period of mourning events, aircraft from the Mosquito Research and Control Unit and RCIPS Air Ops Unit, flew over the four locations during the children’s floral tribute ceremony.
Trees planted in Queen’s honour
As part of Cayman’s national period of mourning, the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency is planting seven trees at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park Children’s Garden – one to honour each decade of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
Premier Wayne Panton, at a private event on 13 Sept., planted the first tree near the Discovery Pond.
Speaking on the sombre occasion, Panton said through a statement, “It is my hope these trees will grow and thrive as living testament to the profound impact of Her Late Majesty’s seven decades of service, benefitting all children who visit the Botanic Park to learn and play.”
Panton noted both monarchs have been “steady advocates” for environmental stewardship and climate change awareness over the years.
“Not only did Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II open the Botanic Park on her second visit to the Cayman Islands as Head of State in 1994, our new monarch His Majesty King Charles III opened the Children’s Garden during his visit to our islands in 2019,” the premier added.
The trees include two Mahogany trees grown from seed by the Department of Agriculture, and five native trees supplied by the Botanic Park nursery and purchased using funds donated by Rotary Central Cayman Islands to the ministry’s national tree planting initiative.
The remaining trees will be planted in collaboration with the ministry’s departments and other collaborating agencies, a statement said.
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